Nature Conservation Society urges Okinawa governor to reject new U.S. base plan

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Nature Conservation Society urges Okinawa governor to reject new U.S. base plan

The Nature Conservation Society of Japan on January 29 submitted to Okinawa Governor Nakaima Hirokazu an opinion paper recommending him to reject the central government plan to construct a new U.S. base with V-shaped runways on the coastline of the Henoko District in Nago City.

The Society warned that the construction of a military base on the coral reef in the Henoko area will inevitably have a harmful effect on the unique biodiversity.

The opinion paper pointed out that the base construction will not only destroy the habitat of diverse species in the site but also seriously damage the whole coral reef in the area as well as the seaweed beds, the feeding grounds of dugongs and sea turtles.

Referring to then Defense Agency Director General Kyuma Fumio's proposal in December 2006 of moving forward the overall construction schedule, the Society stated that this government policy will lead to cutting short the time needed for a proper environmental assessment, trampling down the basic principle of the Environmental Impact Assessment Law.
- Akahata, January 30, 2007